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Rescaping a tank questions

Hey all,

So I'm curious, everyone does it at some point in time, for whatever reason. And it's currently crossed mine after learning so much more and wanting to improve my very first tank.

How do you all go about rescaping an established tank that still has healthy fish? Stirring up the substrate I know is a no, no! I'm guessing a lot would re-home the fish temporarily? If that isn't possible what do others do?

So empty water in a big container, run the filter into that and a heater? The fish wouldn't freak out or stress with no light for ages? Whats a long time?

Hope you've been well mate!

That is what i do, I think with the filter running you could leave the fish in the container for a fair while, days / weeks if needed. My last rescape I got done in 1 day (fish sat in the bucket with filter running for about 10 hrs) but previously I had to leave the container with filter running outdoors for a week, fish where fine without any heater just the filter, sensitive fish may be different, gotta keep the filter running to keep the good bacteria alive.

Interesting:- I don't have anything sensitive anyways. All community fish, just going to have a hard time getting the 2 bristlenose, they don't like each other already, not sure how they will go in a big container with no where to hide. Might have to add some drift wood.

Another more complicated option is if you had a spare tank .. you could remove the fish and keep them in a bucket for a few hours to a day. Then drain your main tank completely, remove all your gravel and move it to your spare tank. Add your existing driftwood/rocks/plants. Fill it up with water and move the fish back in.

Now your main tank is completely empty and you can add new gravel (ADA/Black Earth) and cycle it without any fish. You could also do a new scape. Once done you can then put the original plants/wood/rocks back in from the spare tank and then move the fish back in

Advantages

1. Changed the gravel to something better
2. New scape
3. Tank feels new again